No stringent Act invoked against Maoist posters

The arrest of several Naxal suspects from the city in 2011 and appearance of posters carrying demands of CPI (Maoist) in the next two years,both times in March,have led investigators to believe the presence of a sleeper cell of the banned outfit in the city.

The arrest of several Naxal suspects from the city in 2011 and appearance of posters carrying demands of CPI (Maoist) in the next two years,both times in March,have led investigators to believe the presence of a sleeper cell of the banned outfit in the city.

Although investigators suspect that Maoists are focusing on Pune,no arrest has been made for putting up the posters. While no case was registered for putting up posters in 2012,in the 2013 case,police registered an offence under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.

CCTV footage from Patrakar Bhavan shows three young men arriving on a motorcycle and putting up posters on March 23,2013. Similar posters were found outside the district collectorate,some colleges,Shivajinagar court,Balgandharva auditorium and bus-stops.

The posters carrying a picture of Bhagat Singh declared that Naxals had set apart this saptah (week) between March 23 and March 29 to remember Comrade Bhagat Singh. The posters also sought the rights of fellow revolutionaries lodged in jail.

Last year,the CPI (Maoist) allegedly put up posters outside Patrakar Bhavan and other spots,calling for a bandh on March 23,2012 and demanding unconditional release of comrades Kobad Ghandy,Vijay,Vikram,Madanlal,Mahesh,Bhanu and Angela Sontakke.

Deputy Commissioner (special branch) M B Tambade said,Last year,no offence was registered in the Maoist poster case. This year we got the offence registered. And we can always invoke more stringent laws during the course of investigation.

Sources from intelligence agencies said Naxalism is a serious concern and so the case of Maoist posters in Pune cannot be taken lightly. Pune Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol refused to comment on the matter.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories